Ancient India EQ: How does geography influence the way people live? Chapter 9, Lesson 1

Academic Vocabulary subcontinent monsoon language family raja Sanskrit Vedas caste guru

Home Learning Chapter 9, Lesson 1 Monday: Questions #1-6 Wednesday: Questions #7-10 * Do not do #11. Packet is DUE: Friday, February 27. ALL QUESTIONS ARE DUE!

Himalaya mountains block off India from the rest of Asia—making India a subcontinent Subcontinent: a large landmass that is smaller than a continent. Mountains and Waterways Himalayans: mountains in the northeast. Ganges River and Indus River: their water comes from melting snow of Himalayas. Geography of India

Climate Monsoons: seasonal winds Winter: little moisture from the north. Northern mountains block cold winds Summer: Heavy rains from the southwest. Water picked up from the Indian Ocean

Activity Complete the Indian Map Answer the following questions: Which two rivers are found in northern India? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having monsoons. What might happen to India's farmers if the summer monsoons did not occur?

Indus River Valley Civilization Flourished in Indus River valley from 2600 BC to 1900 BC. Soil was rich to grow crops. Indus people built cities Great Cities: Mohenjo-Daro Harappa

Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa More 35,000 residents Planned cities Highly skilled engineers and builders Homes had wells, at least one indoor bathroom

What was life like? Temples and palaces were enclosed by walls Most people were farmers lived in farming villages outside city City residents: merchants, shopkeepers, artisans People trade with Mesopotamia

Aryans Move into India In 1900 B.C., people abandon their cities and villages in Indus valley. Why?—Drought, Earthquakes? Group called Aryans migrated to India. Mixed with descendants of Indus Valley people.

Aryan Life The Aryans did many things differently from the Indus Valley people. Write down each of these characteristics on each tab of your Four-Way Foldable. Briefly explain how each characteristics applies to Aryan life. AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE 4-WAY FOLDABLE: When you are done you are going to answer the following question. Explain it giving examples. (1/2 page paragraph) How did the Aryans change their way of life after they settled in India? Explain with plenty of examples.

The Aryans Indo-European people (language family) = Aryans Lived in central Asia and migrated to India’s River Valley Raised cattle—cows became sacred and not eaten

They lived in tribes= eventually kingdoms raja was Indian prince Written Language = Sanskrit Eventually wrote sacred books called Vedas

Ancient India Society: The Varna (Caste) System Aryan society was organized into classes  caste system Born into class Must marry within caste, can only have friends within caste.

Caste System Brahmins: Priests Kashatriyas: warrior, rulers (ran government) Vaisyas: common people (farmers, craftspeople, and merchants) Sudras: unskilled workers, servants

Untouchables They were outside the caste system and below it. They did jobs no one else wanted, sweepers and disposers of dead bodies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1dbksj22Ds

Activity: The Varnas Class Pyramid Group: Assign a caste Name of the caste and provide example of the member of your Caste Explain why your caste was an important member of Indian society? (paragraph 5-6 sentences) Illustrate: Draw your caste member Narrative: On a separate paper. Briefly narrate what your life was like as a member of your caste in 2 paragraphs.

Exit Slip What was family life like in Ancient India? Explain in 5-6 sentence

THE END OF LESSON 1

Hinduism: The Religion of India The Bhagavad Gita is the most important text for the religion and philosophy developed in Ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and Supreme Being who takes many forms.

Many Gods Hinduism is polytheism Considered all gods to be part of one universal god They had gods for the creator, protector, and destroyer

Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Brahma, the creator god

Vishnu, the protector god Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including: Rama (featured in the Ramayana Krishna (featured in the Mahabharata) (Each shown with his consort, Sita and Radha, respectively)

Shiva, god of constructive destruction (the transformer) Appears as Shiva Nataraj, lord of the dance of creation… and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha (the elephant headed remover of obstacles)

What about the goddesses? Devi – the feminine divine Saraswati, goddess of wisdom, consort of Brahma

Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune, consort of Vishnu

Parvati, divine mother, wife of Shiva

Durga, protectress Kali, destroyer of demons Plus about 330 million other deities

All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman

Hinduism Continued… Many Lives Karma: the belief that the deeds (actions) of a person affect what he or she will be in the next life. Reincarnation: the belief that each person has many lives Animals have a supreme life force Many Hindus don’t eat meat as a result.

Many Paths to God Faithfully carry out duties in life Some believe by following their own path they can connect with their supreme God Meditation / yoga

Buddhism and India’s Golden Age Lesson 3 Build on What You Know Ahimsa = nonviolence The Rise of Buddhism Based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Prince who gave up wealth and power to understand the meaning of life

The Buddha’s Life and Teachings Priest predicted that Siddhartha Gautama be selfless, wandering holy man At age 29, saw sickness, old age, poverty, and death for the first time in his life. 6 years of fasting / meditation

Four Noble Truths 1. People suffer because their minds are not at ease 2. That condition comes from wanting what one does not have 3. People can stop suffering by not wanting 4. People can stop wanting by following the eightfold path

Eightfold Path They believe that the Eightfold Path can lead to nirvana

Buddhism Changes Dharma is collected teachings After Buddha died, Buddhism divided into many branches

Asoka the Buddhist King Lived a bloody life but tried to rule peacefully Carved policies on peacefulness on rocks and pillars Let people of other religions worship freely (tolerance)

Changes to Hinduism Language difference drove people away Many people turn to Buddhism, which meant many people left Hinduism Poets wrote poems in a language that people could understand, which led to people coming back to Hinduism

The Golden Age of Guptas The Gupta Empire Chandra Gupta II took India into the Golden Age

Art and Literature Architecture and art flourished under Chandra Gupta II’s reign Religious subjects were the basis for art Kalidasa wrote love stories (most famous was about forgotten women and the royal family)

Mathematics, Science, and Metallurgy Indian scholars invented the numeral system, symbol for zero, and the decimal system Ayurvedic improves health by diet, exercise and other methods Calculate the value of pi and discovered the amount of days in a year Pillar was built of iron (didn’t rust)

Trade Spread Indian Culture Traders and missionaries spread Indian culture in many parts of Asia Gupta profited from foreign trade

The Legacy of India Lesson 4 India’s Religious Legacy Yoga / meditation is very popular and shows that religious traditions are still alive

India’s Religious Legacy (cont.) Hinduism and Buddhism Today 4 / 5 are Hindus Asia, Europe, and parts of the west practice Buddhism (Hinduism = worldwide)

Hindu and Buddhist Influences Gandhi uses ahimisa (nonviolence) - Martin Luther King Jr. was influenced by him Millions practice meditation

India’s Artistic Legacy Art worldwide Many Asian nations use plays from India Indian art and architecture have helped shape other cultures Religious art

The Legacy of Indian Mathematics Numerals originated in India Decimal also developed in India Discover zero Arab traders brought numerals; hence, Arabic numerals